STAND. COM. REP. NO. 964-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2418

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2418, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the focus, scope, and management of the Agribusiness Development Corporation to reflect the current state of agriculture in Hawaii and focus on statewide needs for export and consumption of local agricultural products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Malama Kaua‘i, Pele Lani Farm LLC, Free Access Coalition, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, and three individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that existing members of the Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation are to be retained through the expiration of their terms, unless they resign, die, or are removed for misconduct;

(2) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2418, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2418, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair